[h=1]Second round produces record ratings[/h]The NBC Sports Group's coverage of the first  two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs have averaged 1.06 million  viewers, making the Conference Quarterfinals and Conference Semifinals  the most-watched first two rounds on record (since 1994, when cable  program data started).
On NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC, this  year's Conference Semifinals averaged 1.32 million viewers, making them  the most-watched Conference Semifinals on record. More than 39 million  total viewers have watched this postseason on NBC, NBC Sports Network  and CNBC, up 23 percent from last year. 
According to Fast National data released by The Nielsen Company, this year's Conference Semifinals: 
--  Averaged 1.29 million viewers on the NBC Sports Network, up 43 percent  from last year and the best on record for a single cable network. 
--  Averaged 1.32 million viewers across NBC, the NBC Sports Network and  CNBC, up 28 percent from last year and the best on record. 
Saturday night's Game 7 between the 
New York Rangers and 
Washington Capitals  was watched by 1.68 million viewers on the NBC Sports Network, making  it the second most-watched Conference Semifinal game on cable this year.  Game 3 of the series -- which was won by the Rangers in triple overtime  -- was watched by 1.85 million viewers, making it the most-watched  Conference Semifinal game of 2012. The NBC Sports Network was the No. 1  network overall in both markets during the game. 
In New York,  Saturday's Game 7 received a 4.8 HH rating, the highest local rating  ever in the market for a NHL game on the NBC Sports Network. The  telecast was up 129 percent from 2008's two-game average. In Washington,  the game received a 7.67 HH rating, the second-highest local rating  ever in the market for a NHL game on the NBC Sports Network. The  telecast was up 19 percent from the market's 2011 Semifinal average.
Sunday night's Western Conference Final Game 1 between the 
Los Angeles Kings and 
Phoenix Coyotes  delivered record ratings for both local markets. The NBC Sports Network  was the highest-rated cable network in both local markets during the  telecast of the game. 
In Los Angeles, Game 1 received a 2.14 HH  rating, the highest local rating ever in the market for a NHL game on  the NBC Sports Network. In Phoenix, it received a 5.56 HH rating, the  highest local rating ever in the market for a NHL game on the NBC Sports  Network.